#NowTrending: This Week’s MedTech News

Based in Kansas City, Mo., the electronic health record provider Cerner was awarded the Defense Healthcare Management System Modernization contract on Wednesday. Valued at as much as $9 billion over the next ten years, according to Defense Department officials, the deal was highly coveted by several top EHR providers including Allscripts, Computer Sciences Corp. and Hewlett-Packard. Cerner also out-bid Epic Systems, the expected winner.

“Today is not just about picking a software vendor,” program executive officer Christopher Miller said in an official DoD report. “Today is really about making sure we provide the right team that will provide the services and all those things that are necessary to meet our objectives.”

The Military Health System serves about 9.5 million active-duty service members and their families.

2. MassChallenge showcase unveils 128 startup finalists

In the third such event, local startup accelerator MassChallenge introduced its suite of startups in the 2015 class. The groups represented many fields, from life sciences to clean tech. Among those focusing on healthcare were ARMR Systems, an anti-hemorrhaging bandage for first responders, Virtudent, an on-demand dental hygienist service and SHRI, which improves health infrastructure in rural Indian communities.

A $1 million grant will be divided and awarded to 10 to 20 of these startups this October. A complete list of finalists can be found online.

According to the “Global Progress on Digital Health” survey, which culled from 450 healthcare organizations including hospitals, pharmaceutical companies and healthcare technology firms, 59 percent are behind schedule on or have no digital health strategy. Only 41 percent responded that they are on schedule with implementation.

The survey was sponsored by Validic, a digital health platform, “to gain better insights into the current state of digital health strategies across healthcare,” according to a press release.

Paula is a freelance science writer and strategic communications associate at Health Leads. Formerly a managing editor at MedTech Boston, she has a B.S. in Journalism from Boston University and has worked with the New England Center for Investigative Reporting, Boston Globe, Social Documentary Network, BU Today and several nonprofit organizations. She can be reached at paula.sokolska@gmail.com.

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